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Shock as Irish Anti-Defamation Federation supports end of Hoboken parade

Calls annual Patrick’s Day Parade “distasteful, dangerous and crime ridden” - VIDEO

By
JAMES O'SHEA,
IrishCentral Staff Writer
Published Thursday, January 26, 2012, 7:18 AM
Updated Thursday, January 26, 2012, 10:49 AM

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See more: St. Patrick's Day  

Family celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Hoboken, New Jersey
Family celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Hoboken, New Jersey
Photo by Google Images


In a surprise move, the Irish Anti-Defamation Federation has sided with Hoboken.

Outrage has been expressed about the cancelation of the New Jersey parade by many Irish groups who say the Irish have been targeted unfairly because of the rowdy activities of a few. John R.Howe a former Grand Marshal of the parade has accused the Hoboken mayor Dawn Zimmer of racism against the Irish.

However, the Ant-Defamation Federation has backed the mayor calling the parade “distasteful and “crime ridden.”

The statement, sent out by recording officer Mary Beth Phillips states:

“The Officers and Members of the Irish Anti-Defamation Federation, based in Philadelphia, would like to support Hoboken's Mayor Dawn Zimmer, in her decision to cancel the St. Patrick's Day Parade in her town.

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“Although we are saddened by the loss of this tradition (what should be an all-generations, family-friendly celebration of Ireland's patron saint, and display of our Irish heritage and culture for those claiming Irish roots), we think Mayor Zimmer was wise to put a stop to the distasteful, dangerous, and crime-ridden activities that have accompanied the parade, especially since last year's parade-associated crimes included three reports of rape.
 
Mayor Zimmer is sending a strong signal to all, whether Irish-American supporters of the Hoboken parade, revelers in the bars, and even spectators, that things are out of control. Her necessary cancellation of the parade is just one step towards fixing a dreadful batch of problems.
 
We applaud her decision to try to make St. Patrick's Day the pride-filled celebration and holiday it should be. Mayor Zimmer does not want, and cannot afford, for Hoboken to be New Orleans at Mardi Gras, even if it means drastic changes are needed this particular year.
 
For all those who disagree with her, we at the IADF recommend ways to create a family-friendly celebration once more, one that will not tax the police and other services required of the citizens of Hoboken.

Here's video highlights of the Hoboken St. Patrick's Day parade 2011:

 

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24 Comments

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connor32 | Jan 31, 2012, 05:37 PM EST
Pilib04, the IADF has well over 135 members, and the support of alot more. Our website has 35 people that created a profile, not 35 total members in our organization. Our facebook page has 145 members. Just wanted to get that cleared up.

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PatriciaMarya | Jan 30, 2012, 06:53 AM EST
There is one solution that I have not seen posted: If it is the bars and the liquor stores that are part and parcel of the problem that day, have them be CLOSED during the hours that Parade is going on. This way, you can see if that makes an impact on the problem. Also have the Fire Dept. on the ready for Upchuck Patrol. If the streets can cleaned down each time there is a digestive accident, it will be noticed. Just put the Town's services on alert and then post the bill in the town's newspaper - I think that figure will be sobering!

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PatriciaMarya | Jan 30, 2012, 06:46 AM EST
Conor32 lucid comments and to the point. It is the Traditionalists that lose again in Hoboken. When I asked my Hoboken pal why the Parade was set so early in March, the answer was to get a good band. They are all taken up for Manhattan on the 17th...I also applaud you for contacting Lepre-Con directly. We don't see any problems, I think, at least they are not publicized for the Santa-con which goes on all over the world and I am not sure where it starts or what country started it first. The costumes are amazing and it makes me laugh out loud and it is a "Happening" and we need those unexpected coming togethers to keep fun alive.

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connor32 | Jan 28, 2012, 01:08 AM EST
Irish Central administrators are biased and they have taken the statement way out of context. Why do you keep deleting my comments?

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connor32 | Jan 28, 2012, 12:54 AM EST
The blame should not be on the Mayor or the Parade Committee, it should be on the party goers that have hijacked and ruined it for everybody else. The Irish Community needs to Unite, speak up, and put a stop to this, enough is enough.

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connor32 | Jan 28, 2012, 12:48 AM EST
The Irish Anti-Defamation supports the decision of the Mayor to protect her city. We also support the parade committee in making the decision to cancel the parade. The IADF is based in Philly, but we address negative stereotypes against the Irish or defamation against the Irish in any city or state. We are working on becoming a nation wide organization by the end of the year. The real issue here is that these party goers who care little to nothing about the Irish heritage have hijacked St. Patrick Parades all over the country, to turn it into a huge party that perpetuates negative stereotypes against the Irish. I have contacted the Lepre Con people to ask them to cancel the Pub crawls, and told them that there are more traditional and appropriate ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.They said that they are fighting against the sytem of government to make people lives free and enjoyable, and that they will not cancel. The sad part is that the Parade committee and the irish community who truly care about their heritage, history, song, and dance are the ones that lose out because of people that could care less, and just want to party. Any questions for the IADF can be sent to me at shamrock28@netzero.net. Thanks, Tim Wilson -Chairman Irish Anti-Defamation

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brennanirish | Jan 27, 2012, 11:55 AM EST
If anyone is interested in the FACTS of this story scroll down to the post by "RTHrBHistCorr". Most of you never are...its just too easy, to hate your own kind, and heap abuse. Pick the 5 rowidest public events in the country annually... Sturgis? Mardi Gras? Mummers? Daytona Beach week? whatever....You won't find the locals attacking and blaming one group over another...or the sterotyping by affiliated groups. Locals will fix what's wrong, involve law enforcement, and move-on. That's too hard for the moralising, self-hating, shame-filled Catholics on this site. Cancel all St. Pat's events and then it'll be, "Anti-Irish Catholic defamamtion". I am not bothered by the drunks on St Patty's Day or any other day of the year...because I am not drunk. I don't lose my self-worth or Irish pride in the bad actions of others.....many of whom aren't even Irish. C'mon people.

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DanCanDo | Jan 27, 2012, 08:27 AM EST
I can understand the bitterness from the "Legitimate Hoboken Americans of Irish Descent" towards the Irish Defamation Federation. But unfortunately too many in "our own community" judge one's "Irishness" on how much you can drink, and how willing you are to give or take a butt kicking. For those people offended who are members, or supporters, of our various groups and organizations...I ask you, it's never bothered you to see these Once a Year Irish using your day of ethnic pride to get completely wasted? Because this is how our society and bars choose to market it. Philly deals with the same drama every year.

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pilib04 | Jan 26, 2012, 07:23 PM EST
Excuse me!!! What in heaven's name has a Philadelphia group IADF have in getting involved in the Hoboken parade debate. Takes a lot of chutzpah for Phillys to poke their nose in Jersey business! A few questions for the IADF. How many current members? How many live in Hoboken or Jersey for that matter? I read on a website that membership in the IADF was at 45 persons. Sounds like the bogus Anti Catholic defamation League of Bill Donahue's. A couple people get together and suddenly they are spokespersons! The Irish of Hoboken should decide on the Parade, NOT the Mayor and certainly NOT some Philly loud mouths!

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jamieLM | Jan 26, 2012, 06:34 PM EST
@mamaginnty, you're so right. For too many people with and without Irish ancestry, the parade and the 17th is no longer a day to honor Ireland or St. Patrick. It's just an excuse to get very drunk, get high, and act rowdy. @Curitiba, maybe that's why the Germans celebrate with their Oktoberfests which are more like festivals - leiderhosen, dancing, polka music, beer & brats and less about parades. I agree that festivals might be a better way to celebrate St. Patrick & Ireland.

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mamaginnty | Jan 26, 2012, 05:21 PM EST
It should be called Irish Day, as St Patrick has long been forgotten by the church. 90% percent of these so called rowdies don't know where Ireland is on the map, or have ever set foot here in Ireland, just an excuse for a wild days drinking and drug taking, don't blame it on the irish.

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Curitiba | Jan 26, 2012, 04:44 PM EST
The trouble with parades is that you are standing there by the side of the road, watching various county associations march by, and some people are going to get bored of that and play up. Festivals are the way to go.

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Curitiba | Jan 26, 2012, 04:41 PM EST
Maybe you should swap the parades for an Irish Festival. We used to have them here in London during the summer. Organised music concerts, beer tents, stalls selling Irish goods, lots of pretty nurses, all in a big park. Cost a tenner a ticket to get in. Hardly ever any trouble. I went to a few, great craic.

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snakehips | Jan 26, 2012, 04:02 PM EST
As an Irish American ( Third Generation in America)I applaud both Mayor Zimmer and the IADF for their stance regarding the Hoboken Parade cancellation. These morons who walk up and down Washington Street in a knock-down drunken stupor, pissing on the streets, mauling or, worse yet, raping woman are the reasons for the promulgation of the Big Dumb "Mick Drunk" sterotype that comes to people's minds when they hear the word Irish. They have no relatonship to our rich cultural experiences in Ireland or the US and are a disgrace to our race.

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PatriciaMarya | Jan 26, 2012, 01:50 PM EST
BillyFitz, RthrHistCorr, Fighting69, eiriamach all gave great ideas and/or corrected misinformation. Now the bar owners will still get their $$$, the city will not have any bonds posted in order to help clean up the mess which no doubt will be happening during LepreCon. I remember the new yuppies that moved to Hoboken complaining about the old-fashioned homage to the Virgin that was a custom of Hoboken's long time religious Italian community members. Funny that those same yuppies have no problem with binge drinking! Why not - it is probably what they did during their college days when they were supported by their mommies and daddies!

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